Agenda and minutes

The Mayor welcomed everyone to the meeting. 

The Mayor stated that the Council’s thoughts were with the families of Gerry Foulds, Councillor Foulds’ wife, who had recently passed away, and Madeleine McCann, the 3-year old British girl who had gone missing in Portugal.

Further to the decision of Council on 26 April 2007, there will be a presentation to Councillor Richard Romain, marking his 25 years’ service on Harrow Council which he has completed this month, May 2007.

Council had previously agreed, by Resolution 192 on 18 July 1985, that Members who completed 25 years’ service with the Council be presented with framed, illuminated copy resolutions of appreciation.  Councillor Richard Romain had completed 25 years’ service as a Member of the Authority in May 2007, and his resolution of appreciation had been adopted by Council Resolution 135 on 26 April 2007.

The Mayor, Councillor Mrs Janet Cowan, on behalf of the Council, now formally congratulated Councillor Romain and presented him with his framed, illuminated copy resolution to mark his long service achievement.  The Leader of the Council, Councillor Chris Mote, and the Leader of the Labour Group, Councillor Navin Shah, together with Councillors David Ashton, B E Gate, Christopher Noyce and John Cowan also spoke in appreciation of Councillor Romain’s service.

Councillor Romain then returned thanks for his presentation.

The Mayor’s Chaplain, Rabbi Andrew Shaw, led the meeting in prayers.

To elect a Mayor of the Borough for the Municipal Year 2007/2008.

The Mayor called formally for nominations for the Office of the Mayor of the London Borough of Harrow for the ensuing Municipal Year.

Councillor Anthony Seymour nominated and Councillor Chris Mote seconded that COUNCILLOR JEAN LAMMIMAN be elected Mayor for the Municipal Year 2007/2008.

There being no other nominations, the Mayor put the nomination of Councillor Jean Lammiman to the meeting and it was

RESOLVED:

THAT COUNCILLOR JEAN LAMMIMAN BE ELECTED MAYOR OF THE LONDON BOROUGH OF HARROW FOR THE MUNICIPAL YEAR 2007/2008.

[Note:  Prior to the call for nominations and with the consent of the Mayor, the Leader of the Labour Group, Councillor Navin Shah, made a brief statement informing Council that his Group would not be participating in the process for the election of the Mayor, for reasons which were clear from the Motion submitted to the Council meeting on 26 April 2007].

The retiring Mayor, Councillor Janet Cowan, vacated the Chair and, after a short interval for robing, the newly elected Mayor, having made and subscribed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office, took the Chair.

The retiring Mayor handed to the duly elected Mayor the keys of the Corporate Seal.

The Mayor’s Consort, Mr John Hinkley, was then invested by the retiring Mayor’s Consort with the Medallion of Office.

The Mayor, Councillor Jean Lammiman, then returned thanks for her election.

Councillor Chris Mote formally moved a vote of thanks to the retiring Mayor, Councillor Mrs Janet Cowan, and to the retiring Mayor’s Consort, Councillor John Cowan, which was seconded by Councillor Marilyn Ashton.

Councillors Dinesh Solanki, Mark Versallion, Christopher Noyce, Navin Shah, Bill Stephenson and Richard Romain also endorsed the vote of thanks.

RESOLVED:

THAT THE COUNCIL PLACE ON RECORD ITS UNANIMOUS APPRECIATION OF AND SINCERE THANKS TO COUNCILLOR MRS JANET COWAN AND COUNCILLOR JOHN COWAN FOR THEIR YEAR OF OFFICE AS MAYOR AND MAYOR’S CONSORT OF THE LONDON BOROUGH OF HARROW FOR 2006/2007.

Councillor Mrs Janet Cowan congratulated the incoming Mayor and Mayor’s Consort, Councillor Jean Lammiman and Mr John Hinkley, on their appointment, and thanked Members of Council for their kind words. 

She expressed her sincere gratitude to the Mayoral staff, Mrs Ball, Mrs Gresty, Mr Deans, Mr Carlin and Mr Ball, for their dedication and guidance, and also extended thanks to the incoming Mayor, past Mayors and Alderman Toms for the occasions on which they had represented her at Mayoral engagements.  She offered special thanks to her Chaplain, Rabbi Andrew Shaw, who had served for the Municipal Year, to her grandchildren and to her neighbour, for their support.

In recalling her Mayoral Year, Councillor Mrs Cowan referred especially to the many functions she had attended, and the opportunities to meet the people of the Borough.  She highlighted some of her most memorable engagements, including the occasion on which she had met Her Majesty the Queen at St James’s Palace at a celebration of 350 years of the Jewish community in England and Wales, and the switching on of the Christmas tree lights in Trafalgar Square for the 60th Anniversary of the gift of a tree from Norway.  She had enjoyed meeting Harrow schoolchildren, cubs, scouts, brownies and guides, and Duke of Edinburgh award winners.  She had attended 44 Citizenship ceremonies, welcoming over 2,600 new British citizens.

Councillor Mrs Cowan paid tribute to the voluntary organisations and the volunteers of Harrow, without whom life in the Borough would not go on, and expressed thanks to the many faith groups that also had invited her to visit them.  It was her hope that the different communities of Harrow would long continue to live in harmony with each other.

She extended thanks to the Metropolitan Police Safer Neighbourhood Team for their help with security at the synagogue, and to colleagues and Council officers for their assistance to her.  Additionally, she thanked the Mayoress’s Committee and the many other people who had worked to raise funds for her special charity.

Finally, she expressed her heartfelt thanks to Members of Council and to the people of the Borough for granting her the privilege of serving as Mayor, and to her family, including her husband and consort, Councillor John Cowan, for their support during her Mayoral Year. 

As a gesture of her appreciation, she presented the Council with the gift of a Jewish menorah.

Councillor Mrs Cowan then left the Dais and was escorted by the Macebearer to her seat in the Council Chamber.

The Mayor, Councillor Jean Lammiman, on behalf of the Council presented a replica of the Mayor’s Medallion to Councillor Mrs Janet Cowan in commemoration of her Mayoralty of the Borough 2006/2007.

The Mayor’s Consort, Mr John Hinkley, presented to the immediate past Mayor’s Consort, Councillor John Cowan, a Medallion to commemorate his year as Mayor’s Consort of the Borough 2006/2007.

To receive the Mayor’s intimation in writing of the appointment of a Councillor of the Borough to be Deputy Mayor.

The Mayor signified in writing that she had appointed Councillor John Nickolay to be Deputy Mayor for the Municipal Year 2007/2008.

The Deputy Mayor, having been duly invested with the Deputy Mayor’s robe and Badge of Office, occupied the Deputy Mayor’s Chair.

The Mayor’s Consort then invested the Deputy Mayoress, Councillor Joyce Nickolay, with her Medallion of Office.

The Deputy Mayor, Councillor John Nickolay, then returned thanks for his appointment.

To receive the Mayor’s announcement concerning a Chaplain (as may be appropriate).

The Mayor confirmed to Council that she had appointed the Reverend Mike Hall as her Mayor’s Chaplain for the Municipal Year 2007/2008.

Paragraph 7.03 of Article 7 of the Constitution provides for the annual appointment of the Leader of the Council.

(i)                 The Council is requested to agree the appointment of a Leader of the Council.

(ii)               The Council is requested also to agree the appointment of a Deputy Leader of the Council.

FOR DECISION

RESOLVED:

THAT COUNCILLOR CHRIS MOTE BE RE-ELECTED LEADER OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE MUNICIPAL YEAR 2007/2008.

RESOLVED:

THAT COUNCILLOR DAVID ASHTON BE RE-ELECTED DEPUTY LEADER OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE MUNICIPAL YEAR 2007/2008.

To receive the proposals from the Leader of the Council.

Further to the proposal from the Leader of the Council circulated in the tabled documentation for the meeting, it was

RESOLVED:

THAT THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE EXECUTIVE (CABINET) AND THE ALLOCATION OF PORTFOLIOS TO EXECUTIVE MEMBERS FOR 2007/2008, TOGETHER WITH THE TERMS OF REFERENCE OF THE CABINET AND THE DELEGATIONS TO PORTFOLIO HOLDERS, BE AGREED (as set out in Appendix 1 to these Minutes).

That the minutes of the meeting held on 26 April 2007 be deferred until published in the Council Minute Volume.

RESOLVED:

THAT THE MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 26 APRIL 2007 BE DEFERRED UNTIL PRINTED IN THE COUNCIL MINUTE VOLUME.

To receive any communications from the newly elected Mayor as to the Civic Functions for the Municipal Year 2007/2008.

Council received tabled notification of the Mayor’s Special Appeal for 2007/08, the Teenage Cancer Trust, and of forthcoming events, including the launch of the Mayor’s Charity Challenge on Wednesday 20 June 2007.

RESOLVED:

THAT THE DATES OF THE FOLLOWING CIVIC FUNCTIONS BE NOTED:

To consider any announcements as to the Authority’s business which the Leader of the Council requires to advise at this Council meeting.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Chris Mote, expressed the hope that it would be a peaceful and happy year, and that all Members would work constructively together.

To receive any declarations of personal or prejudicial interests by Members of Council arising from the remaining business for this Annual Meeting of the Council, from all Members present.

No interests were declared by Members in relation to the business to be transacted at this meeting.

To receive and consider any procedural motions by Members of Council under the relevant Council Procedure Rules in relation to the conduct of the remaining business for this Annual Meeting of the Council.

[Note:  Notice of such procedural motions, received after the issuing of this Summons, will be tabled].

There were no procedural motions from Members of Council.

To receive and confirm the Determination as to the proportional allocation of Committee places for the Municipal Year 2007/2008 under the 1990 Regulations.

(A draft Determination based on the 2006/2007 number and size of Committees of the Council has been prepared by the Chief Executive and advised to the political Groups on the Council).

FOR CONFIRMATION

[Note: The Determination as agreed would be utilised for the formal appointment of Committee Memberships – see Item below].

The Chief Executive had prepared and notified to the political Groups on the Council a Determination under the Local Government (Committees and Political Groups) Regulations 1990 as to their proportional entitlements to Committee places for the Municipal Year 2007/2008.

RESOLVED:

THAT THE DETERMINATION AS TO THE PROPORTIONAL ALLOCATION OF COMMITTEE PLACES BE CONFIRMED.

To receive the nominations of the Groups to Committee places in accordance with their proportional entitlements under the approved Determination and formally to establish the Committees of the Council and their memberships for the Municipal Year 2007/2008.

FOR CONFIRMATION

The Council received confirmation, in the tabled documentation, of the nominations by the political Groups to places on Committees of the Council in accordance with their proportional entitlements under the approved Determination.  In addition, the Leader of the Council, Councillor Chris Mote, notified the meeting of an amendment to the nominations to the reserve memberships of the Development Management Committee and the Strategic Planning Committee on behalf of the Conservative Group.

RESOLVED:

THAT THE COMMITTEES OF THE COUNCIL BE ESTABLISHED WITH THE MEMBERSHIPS NOW AGREED FOR THE MUNICIPAL YEAR 2007/2008 (and as set out at Appendix 2 to these minutes).

To receive a proposal from the Leader of the Council as to the appointment of Chairs to Committees of the Council for the Municipal Year 2007/2008 (further to Council Procedure Rule 1.1(xii) of the Constitution).

FOR DECISION

(i)         In the tabled documentation, the Council received a proposal from the Leader of the Council as to the appointment of Chairmen to Committees of the Council for the Municipal Year 2007/2008.

(ii)            Councillor B E Gate moved, and Councillor Navin Shah seconded, an amendment proposing the appointment of Councillor Mitzi Green, rather than Councillor Stanley Sheinwald, as Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

(iii)       Upon a vote, the amendment was not carried.

(iv)       Upon a further vote, the substantive proposal was adopted.

RESOLVED:

THAT THE FOLLOWING CHAIRMEN OF COMMITTEES BE APPOINTED FOR THE MUNICIPAL YEAR 2007/2008:-

[Notes:  (i)  The above appointments are also reflected in Appendix 2 to these Minutes – see Resolution 160 above;

(ii)  Councillors Ms Nana Asante, Mrinal Choudhury, Bob Currie, Mrs Margaret Davine, Mano Dharmarajah, Keith Ferry, Archie Foulds, B E Gate, David Gawn, Mitzi Green, Graham Henson, Thaya Idaikkadar, Nizam Ismail, Dhirajlal Lavingia, Jerry Miles, Phillip O’Dell, David Perry, Navin Shah, Mrs Rekha Shah, Bill Stephenson, Mrs Sasi Suresh and Keeki Thammaiah wished to be recorded as having voted against the Resolution above and in favour of the amendment set out in paragraph (ii)].

On a proposal from the Leader of the Council, to continue the existing arrangements as set out in Part 3 of the Constitution.

FOR CONFIRMATION

Further to Item 15 on the Summons, it was proposed that the existing arrangements as set out in Part 3 of the Constitution continue.

RESOLVED:

THAT THE TERMS OF REFERENCE AND DELEGATED POWERS FOR COMMITTEES OF THE COUNCIL IN PART 3 OF THE CONSTITUTION BE CONFIRMED.

To receive proposals from the political Groups as to the appointment of representatives of the Authority to serve on outside bodies for the Municipal Year 2007/2008.

FOR DECISION

(i)         Item 16 on the Summons provided for the receipt of proposals from the Political Groups as to the appointment of representatives of the Authority to serve on outside bodies for the Municipal Year 2007/2008.

(ii)        The nominations of the Groups were notified in the tabled documents (pages 29-42), within an overall proposal submitted by the Leader of the Council.  In addition, corrections to the proposal were received in the form of a separate paper tabled at the meeting.

(iii)       The Leader of the Council, Councillor Chris Mote, indicated that there would be a need for further corrections, to be discussed between the Chief Whips, following the meeting, but that he now wished to make an additional change to the nominations as had been proposed, as set out below:-

 (iv)            Councillor Navin Shah moved an amendment proposing the deletion of two nominations and their substitution by alternative nominations, as follows:-

(v)        Upon a vote, the amendment at (iv) above was not carried.

(vi)       Upon a further vote, the substantive proposals, as varied by (iii) above,  were approved.

RESOLVED:

THAT THE SUBSTANTIVE PROPOSAL AS TO THE OUTSIDE BODY APPOINTMENTS FOR THE MUNICIPAL YEAR 2007/2008 (INCLUDING THE AGREED AMENDMENTS) BE APPROVED (as set out at Appendix 3 to these minutes).

[Note:  Councillors Ms Nana Asante, Mrinal Choudhury, Bob Currie, Mrs Margaret Davine, Mano Dharmarajah, Keith Ferry, Archie Foulds, B E Gate, David Gawn, Mitzi Green, Graham Henson, Thaya Idaikkadar, Nizam Ismail, Dhirajlal Lavingia, Jerry Miles, Phillip O’Dell, David Perry, Navin Shah, Mrs Rekha Shah, Bill Stephenson, Mrs Sasi Suresh and Keeki Thammaiah wished to be recorded as having voted against the Resolution above and in favour of the amendment set out in paragraph (iv)].

The Vice-Chairman of the Standards Committee, Councillor Joyce Nickolay, moved Recommendation I of the Standards Committee meeting of 23 April 2007 in the above matter.

RESOLVED:

THAT HARROW’S REVISED CODE OF CONDUCT FOR COUNCILLORS, TOGETHER WITH THE TEN GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF CONDUCT, BE ADOPTED.

A report of the Constitution Review Working Group.

In the tabled documentation, the Council received the Recommendations arising from the Constitutional Review Working Group meeting on 19 April 2007.

RESOLVED:

THAT THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE AUTHORITY’S CONSTITUTION, AS NOW ENDORSED BY THE CONSTITUTION REVIEW WORKING GROUP AND DETAILED IN ITS REPORT, BE APPROVED.

To note and confirm the dates of the Meetings of Council for the Municipal Year, as follows:-

Further to the information provided at Item 19 of the Summons, notification was provided in the tabled documentation of a proposal to bring forward to 17 April 2008 the Council meeting scheduled in the Calendar of Meetings for 24 April 2008, as that meeting fell during Passover.  In order to facilitate this change, the Cabinet meeting on 17 April 2008 would be brought forward to 10 April 2008, and the Employees’ Consultative Forum meeting scheduled for 10 April 2008 would also be re-arranged. 

The proposal was agreed.

RESOLVED:

THAT THE FOLLOWING DATES FOR MEETINGS OF THE COUNCIL IN THE MUNICIPAL YEAR 2007/2008 BE HEREBY CONFIRMED:-